Post Game Quotes
2/14/2015 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
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Mizzou Head Coach Kim Anderson
Opening Statement...
"The good news is that we came back from a 17-point deficit and took the lead. The areas of concern for me are, obviously, defensively, we have to get better. We have some guys who have to get better defensively. We have to be able to guard, especially in pressure situations. Having said that, I say we have to be able to guard, but we also have to be able to quit fouling. They shot 33 free throws and there were 51 fouls called in the game and they get 33 free throws. We have to quit putting people on the line. On a positive note, I thought we did an outstanding job on the offensive boards. We started shooting the ball better in the second half and got some great performances from J3 and Keith Shamburger and Ryan, here with me. This is the same story and you have heard it before, we got close and we just couldn't finish the deal. We had a chance to finish, we give up an offensive rebound, we make an error, we throw the ball away on the other end and couldn't finish the deal."
On whether it was another game that he challenged Johnathan Williams, III... "No, I think what he said was true. When you sit on the bench and you watch and you see opportunities. In the first half, I talked to him a couple of times that we are running more plays for him and we are still putting stuff in, like some isolation stuff, but he pulled up a couple of times instead of taking it to the hole. We have to attack the basket so that we can shoot 33 free throws. We just give up too many points from the line and it is defense. Our defense was not very good."
On Wes's injury causing an adjustment on defense...
"Well we are playing, you know we played from a defensive standpoint, you know we were playing D'Angelo and Deuce in there to start the game, and DA has improved so much and he has played so well. Keith is always pretty solid. We have to get those other guys to where they do a good job of guarding and not getting in foul trouble because we need everyone in the game. So, I just thought we played harder in the second half, but a key is that whenever we seem to get something going, then we do something like foul or give the ball away."
Junior Forward, Ryan Rosburg
On the offensive rebound that sealed Mississippi State's win...
"I mean I think that was huge because we had just gotten the lead for the first since early in the game and everyone was excited, but that is just the way it is. It is one possession that changes that. We get that rebound and build a lead and who knows what can happen. That just shows that every possession counts and we can't take any time off."
On attitude coming off the second half...
"Obviously, things have not been going well. There has been a lot of people down but I mean I think that we have to try and find positives. Pinpoint the positives and try and come out every game doing that. We haven't been getting the results we have wanted, but if we can take the second half of this game and you could say this for a lot of our games that if we had that stretch for a whole, that is what we need to do."
On his offensive performance today...
"It was great to get that. I don't think there was anything different in particular but Wes was down and I wanted to step up and just try to go out and do what I do every time. Shots started falling."
Sophomore Forward, Johnathan Williams, III
On the difference in Mizzou's play between the first and the second half...
"I just got in foul trouble early in the game and had to sit out for a long time."
On the message to him at halftime...
"Go out there and play. That was about it. There really was no message just like get going and help my team win and play on both ends."
On whether having to sit motivated him in the second half...
"I was really angry. So, I just came out there ready to play hard."
Mississippi State Head Coach Rick Ray
Opening statement...
"I think Coach Anderson is doing an unbelievable job with this team. I know he's going through a lot of things with suspensions and injuries, believe me I have been in the same place he has been in. What he's doing is getting those guys to continue to play hard and compete at the end of the day. As a fan , and someone who's a Mizzou person, that's what you want when it's all said and done. This is a great victory for us to win on the road. No matter how you win on the road, anytime you can get one it's important. We have to learn how to play with a lead, but fortunately we were able to hang on and win.
On how Wes Clark's injury changed preparations..
"We wanted to pressure Keith more and try to wear him down. I believed he did a terrific job and I don't think he came off the court. I think Keith is a guy who can really make shots and facilitate down low.
On Johnathan Williams performance tonight..
"I think his talent level is really high. What happens sometimes is when you are on a team that's struggling, people surround you. We had that same situation with Gavin Ware in the past. I thought he did a very good job with attacking and not settling."
Junior Craig Sword
On pulling out a close game...
"It was tough, they came and hit some big shots, but we ended up fighting and coming out with the win.
On Mizzou's comeback in the game....
"I didn't know that was their record. It doesn't really matter, we come to play each game like it's our last.
Senior Roquez Johnson
On pulling out a close game...
"Free throws kept us in the game. They hit a couple big shots but we stayed on the course"
